End of farm machinery distribution, Trois-Rivières

30 May 2017

Trois-Rivières, May 30, 2017 - La Coop fédérée announced today it will gradually be closing its farm machinery and parts distribution operations in Trois-Rivières. Suspension of activities will be completed over the next 12 to 15 months, from September 2017 to the fall of 2018. This suspension of activities will affect 26 employees, who will be supported through La Coop fédérée’s assistance programs and policies.

“The farm machinery market has, over the last few years, entered a period of pronounced decline that causes manufacturers and dealers to amalgamate. In the light of this new state of affairs, La Coop fédérée’s role as a distributor is no longer relevant for our member cooperatives who now shoulder their responsibilities independently while selling farm equipment directly to Quebec producers,” noted La Coop fédérée’s Chief Executive Officer, Gaétan Desroches.

“We are privileged to have had the pleasure of relying on the employees of this division for many years now and this is one of the reasons this decision is so difficult to make. Their conduct over the last three years following the closing of the hardware distribution centre was of the highest standard. We will work together to minimize the impacts of this decision along with the help of the Bourassa Brodeur Bellemare consulting firm, a leader in career transition, whose expertise in the face of such a challenge is unequivocal,” added Desroches.

As announced in January 2017, the building currently used by these employees (4225, rue Saint-Joseph, Trois-Rivières) has been sold. Thus, La Coop fédérée will not renew its lease once all activities have terminated.

La Coop fédérée will provide no further comment in this regard.

About La Coop fédérée
Founded in 1922, La Coop fédérée is the largest agri-food industry in Quebec and the 24th largest agri-food cooperative in the world. It represents more than 90,000 members grouped into nearly 70 cooperatives with operations spread out in many Canadian provinces. More than 12,000 people are employed at La Coop which has annual revenues of $6.3 billion. Including its affiliated cooperatives, La Coop fédérée has nearly 18,000 employees and consolidated revenue of $9.2 billion. La Coop fédérée provides agricultural producers all the goods and services required for their operations. Its activities are separated into three Divisions: Olymel S.E.C. (under the Olymel, Flamingo and Lafleur banners), the Agri-business division (under the La Coop, Elite, Agrocentres, Agromart and Agrico banners), and Groupe BMR (under the BMR, Unimat, Agrizone and Potvin & Bouchard banners) For further information, visit www.lacoop.coop. Twitter account: twitter.com/LaCoop_federee.